Washington (CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she is being encouraged to stay on by colleagues, but insists she hasn't made a final decision about whether to make a run for House Minority Leader when Republicans take control in January.

"I've gotten a positive response, but I haven't gone to a place where I've made a decision about that," said Pelosi in an interview with the Huffington Post.
She said that only on Thursday did she start to look at messages and notes from colleagues about what she should do.

"Everything is very positive in what they say, complimentary about how I've kept the caucus together, complimentary about the fact that we won in the first place [in 2006] and increased our numbers [in 2008] and that we have to come right back in that regard," Pelosi told the left- leaning internet site.

Sources close to Pelosi told CNN she has been on the telephone for nearly two days straight, talking to fellow Democrats about the election results, and also about her own future.

One of the sources said if the conventional wisdom was that she would step aside after losing the speaker's gavel, "then its fair to say she's seriously considering staying" as House Democratic Leader.

Despite being demonized by Republicans, Pelosi still has a large reservoir of support and good will from her colleagues.

She raised tens of millions of dollars for House Democratic candidates, and sources familiar with her conversations say lawmakers encouraging her to stay on range from so-called "old bulls" to newer Democrats who survived.

But not all House Democrats want Pelosi to be their leader in the new world.

Rep. Heath Shuler, D-North Carolina, a conservative Democrat, told Roll Call newspaper it would be in Pelosi's best interest to bow out.

A source close to Shuler told CNN's Deirdre Walsh he is trying to send a message to Pelosi that they need a more moderate Democratic leader, or it will be hard to recruit moderates.

Ken Spain, Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, echoed the sentiment.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result,” Spain said in an email. “Of course, if House Democrats are willing to sacrifice more of their members in 2012 for the glory of Nancy Pelosi, we are happy to oblige them.”

soundoff(31 Responses)

Ray Fellows

Nancy, you've been repudiated and humiliated. Scurry of into obscurity like everyone else has in your position has done. You were Obama's pitbull and you hitched your wagon to the wrong star. Bye bye Nacy and good riddance, the country is way better off with you not in power!

November 4, 2010 09:31 pm at 9:31 pm |

ed

She needs to step aside and let someone that won't be so divisive to represent the party.

November 4, 2010 09:32 pm at 9:32 pm |

dic

pelosi, she JUST doesn't get it.....the american people want her OUT!!!!!!! she thinks she's god's gift to this country,
what do we have to do to make her understand......she will take DOWN the rest of the democrates...what a greedy selfish
old lady

i am to the left of democrats generally but am a pragmatist and a realist and prioritize keeping democrats in power,whatever comprimises ned to be made. nancy pelosi presents a terrible presence in public,also old timers and many independents emotionally resent women in power particularly if they are being pecked on unlike hillary clinton.i saw early on that she was a serious liability.stay in power and make gains painfully slow.the tea party wiil crack!!!!! the election results in alaska were also a referendum on sarah palin and the tea party where they know them best.i can see it clearly as in the past. steve

November 4, 2010 09:59 pm at 9:59 pm |

Brian R Dunham

Nancy Pelosi should resign as she is partially responsible for the Democratic Party's poor showing in the elections.

November 4, 2010 10:06 pm at 10:06 pm |

DENNA

I think that Ms. Pelosi should stay. She did a stellar job, no matter what the conservative talking heads fed to their listeners. She should stay on just to see if Johhny Boehner can do any better. I'm thinking not so much. This recession is tough and President Obama misread it. The GOP isn't even trying. Their only goal is to beat President Obama in 2012. Don't the GOP even get that there are other people in America beside their supporters, who will probably turn on them if things don't get better?

November 4, 2010 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

The reality is...

WOW! I guess the Democrats are in denial; go for it Pelosi, try to get your revenge, but 2012 is just around the corner and you and your cronies will be finished off next time around.

November 4, 2010 10:10 pm at 10:10 pm |

Jay G

Take a hike Pelosi. There's a reason you were voted out in a landslide. Nobody likes you, your liberal fanaticism, or your extremely partisan politics.

November 4, 2010 10:15 pm at 10:15 pm |

Denny

Nancy, give it up and retire to live in your self-delusion in California, watching as it financially falls into the ocean while continuing to pursue your vision of the nanny state. We have others to clean up the awful mess you made.

November 4, 2010 10:41 pm at 10:41 pm |

George of the jungle

You may not like her but she has a back bone which is more than I can say for some of her colleagues. Waiting to see wht these so called repo are going to do to help with the econemy besides give the rich a tax break.

November 4, 2010 10:48 pm at 10:48 pm |

trmkc

The woman is delirious.

November 4, 2010 11:08 pm at 11:08 pm |

New Age Independant

Pelosi is a disaster for the Democrats. They need to clean house and fast, if they don't want a repeat performance during the next election cycle.

November 4, 2010 11:10 pm at 11:10 pm |

La Piovra

Insanity IS in doing the same thing over and over again, such as in reaching out your hand to an opponent who is determined to bite it off. If this election has demonstrated anything, it's that Blue Dogs get neutered without anesthetic. At least Nancy Pelosi knows better than to be a Blue Dog.

November 4, 2010 11:19 pm at 11:19 pm |

Mikola

The damage she brought to the country will last for years. Tax and spend must end.

These people should be a shame of themselves Nancy I appreciate every thing you've done for the poor and middle-class but the American stupid people have voted to undo every thing you and the democrats have created and leave millions of Americans out in the cold. We need warriors and workhorse with strong back bone like yourself youve never backed down from a challenge before andyou're the only one the dems have who let the repugs shiver in their boots just by hearing the name Nancy Nancy Nancy. Not even Obama name terrorize the repugs as the name Nancy Nancy Nancy so please do not turn your back on the dems when they need you the most. They hate you for the same reason why we love you. History will remember you as the greatest speakr who ever to hold a gavel in the house of representatives.

November 5, 2010 12:19 am at 12:19 am |

Terry P

This is absurd – between Obama and Pelosi, its hard to figue outwhich one is denial the most. Pelosi is out of touch with reality!

November 5, 2010 01:54 am at 1:54 am |

Not fooled

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
Thank You for all your hard work. I wish you would stay we need a fighter like you. I think you are brilliant.

November 5, 2010 03:15 am at 3:15 am |

ON the road

What's the worst that can happen if she stays around as 'Senior Democrat'?? Lose the White House? Lose the Senate?? THAT could NEVER happen on her watch!!! If she wants to stay, let her stay!!

November 5, 2010 05:29 am at 5:29 am |

Fair is Fair

PLEASE stay on... you tend to make conservatives more and more attractive choices.

November 5, 2010 07:41 am at 7:41 am |

Right Leaning Independent

I hope the great liberal divider stays on so she can experience the punishment and ridicule of causing the greatest defeat of Dems in history!! I also hope she runs for minority leader so that she can also face the embarassment of being defeated for that position!